Collapsible wardrobe cabinet



Dec. 25, 1945. BLECHMAN 2,391,614

COLLAPSIBLE WARDROBE CABINET Filed Aug. l8,' 1942 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,391,614 OOLLAPSIBLEWARDROBE CABINET Irving Blechman, New York, N. Y. Application August 18,1942, Serial No. 455,188 2 Claims. (01. 312-144) The object of thepresent invention is to provide a collapsible wardrobe cabinet which maybe very quickly and easily assembled from fiat collapsed condition andwith a minimum of applied nails, screws or other fastening devices.

The characteristic of my cabinet is that the one-piece member whichforms the side and back walls and the top and bottom members may beassembled into a rigid structure by interfitting and sliding the topmember to the side wall members, and with the same action with respectto the bottom member.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a view, in vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,showing a form of interlocking the slidable connection between the topand side walls.

Collapsible wardrobe cabinets have become an important furniture item,due to their relatively low cost, and the fact that when shipped theyoccupy very little space. It is necessary, however, for the householderto unpack the collapsed cabinets and follow detailed printed directionsin erecting and fastening the units together. One of the principaldifliculties has been the securing of the top and bottom members to theside Walls in such manner that the-top may serve as primary reinforcingunits for the assembly, and it has been generally the practice toperforate the side flanges of the top and bottom members and to supplythe householder with prong fasteners for securing the flanges to theside walls. This troublesome method of assembly is avoided by myconstruction.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the side and backwalls of my cabinet are formed of a unitary sheet, the back wall beingshown at I and the side walls at 2. The front margins of the side wallsare received in vertical grooves formed in the uprights of the frontframe member 3 and nails driven through the sides of said vertical framemembers may be employed to hold the frame in position, the nails beingindicated at 4. Secured by hinges 5 are two doors 6 separated, whenclosed, by an intermediate vertical frame member 51', the doors havinghandles 1, the vertical frame member carrying pivoted latch members 8for holding the doors in closed position. It will be understood that anyother suitable front closure means for the cabinet may be provided.

Permanently secured to each side wall 2 near the top thereof is ahorizontal bar or strip 18a of dovetail shape. Also secured to eachflange lfiasof the top member I 0 is a strip I 9a having an inwardlydirected channel formation to interflt with that of member 18a. When theend walls are mounted in the frame member and held in position by nails4 the top may be applied with its channelway strips interlocked with thestrips |8a,- and the top moved forwardly until its front margin liesover upon the top rail 34m: of the frame 3. A few tacks or nails may bedriven in through the said top margin and in through rail 3x2: to securethe parts inposition.

The strips may be formed of plastic, metal or any suitable material andat its rear corners the top may be reinforced by the cornerreinforcements I3 particularly when the top member with its flanges andchannel strips is constructed of relatively light material.

It will be understood that the slide arrangement of the top member I0 isduplicated for the bottom member indicated at M, Figure 1, like numeralshaving been applied to the corresponding parts.

After the top pediment l8 may I!) has been placed in position, a be laidover upon top rail 3mm of the frame and secured by two nails l9 asindicated in Figure 1. This pediment will hide the otherwise exposededge of top member ID and will improve the appearance of the cabinet.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the interfittedand slidable parts within the scope of the invention. Thus, for example,the positions of the channeled strip and its interfitting bar may bereversed. In that case, the channeled strips carried by the walls mayhave a greater width than the flange lilac, thereby providing increasedrigidity, if desired, to the wall members.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is as follows:

1. A collapsible cabinet comprising: a cardboard material folded to forma body member composed of a rear wall and side walls; a front frame; topand bottom members of cardboard extending beyond the side walls, eachformed with integral flanges for overlapping the side walls and the rearwall; each of said side walls and the adjacent flanges of the top andbottom members having a, reinforcing bar, adjacent bars being dovetailshaped and channelled respectively for interfitting and slidingengagement with each other.

2. A collapsible cabinet comprising: a cardboard material folded to forma. body member ing dovetail shaped bar and each of the flanges composedof a rear wall and side walls; a. front of the top and bottom membersadjacent the side frame; top and bottom members of cardboard wallshaving a reinforcing channeled bar; the extending beyond the side walls,each formed said dovetailed and channel bars being adapted with integralflanges for overlapping the side 5 for interfittin and S idin n m nt wth e h walls and the rear wall; each of the side walls other.

having a longitudinally extending and reinforc- IRVING BLECHMAN.

